Its all tech, in comparison to late model f25/f15 or early model G01 - it is hard to justify.
I'm hoping this is the case as I want to flog mine within the next year or so.
). This past month my tally of 38-42 year old friends and colleagues who have had heart attacks got into the double digits.
And I know EXACTLY where you are coming from...Apart from those who 'have money' or businesses, there just aren't enough salaried people out there that are able to buy these things anymore. BMW is slowing. Others in this range are collapsing. All these long-motorplan terms and extra warranties are not coming from the goodness of manufacturer's hearts. It's desperation.
There are people working for companies that earn a lot of money but in case anyone hasn't noticed, these guys have been suffering for years now with wage stagnation and effects of interest rates and inflation. The person working at a company (outside of very senior management) is simply not going to have the cashflow to buy what used to be 'executive sedans and SUVs' that are really meant for him/her. You WILL see these vehicles around because there are still people able to buy them or willing to put up with the terms required to make them 'affordable', but the reality is that number is now quite low.
On the topic of jobs, go and see how hard it is to get a R1.5M+ job that is not an absolute clusterf*** of amalgamated roles... often with virtually zero team or support. Even if you shop further up the chain (and are suitable connected and qualified to land it) you find this is the case.
I last held an executive role many moons ago but I will often get called by companies or head hunters and have to decline even interviewing since my little consulting business with some rag-tag freelancers (nowhere close to matching what I've earned in the past by the way) pays me more than roles that will literally take over your life and make you go grey (I'd know since I was on stress control medication when I had some of them
The dynamic I've seen is that very young people are willing to accept these roles for the title. They have no idea how few resources they have, the pressure awaiting them or what they SHOULD be earning because so many influencers and literature encourage them to avoid saying 'no' to 'opportunity'. There are certain people I know who have taken on additional work for no extra pay for fear that they would be sidelined in future OR they would eventually lose their jobs. As a result, you have wage stagnation or even declines in the average pay for certain roles. That is not to say that this is the case everywhere and there are still plenty of 'good jobs' at good employers in good industries. This is more of a trend where I 'fish' so to speak so of course your mileage will vary.
I have had this chat with @KPM3_30 before at length: I left FMCG 10 years ago and yet salaries offered then are pretty much the same as now for similar titles but much greater complexity. I see the same thing happening in ICT now and to a lesser degree in FSI. Some of the smartest and most driven people I know are peacing out... and finding success on their own. Regardless of performance or profitability, everyone is expected to do more WITH less and FOR less. This is apart from all the other dynamics at play within tech currently: It's a problem many years in the making starting with reductions in bonus structures, ever-increasing role complexity and resource/skill cuts. I have two multi-billion rand clients that have multiple single-person departments albeit staffed by individuals that have very nice titles. I can't complain really because the only way for them to be effective is to work with small businesses like my own... but bear with me... there's a point to this:
These people who eventually have a title or get a job that pays well also have dreams and had goals like all of us did when we hoped to climb the ladder and achieve things. To have nice clothes and cars and houses etc etc. Why kill yourself if there is no reward? This is programmed into people from the time they are kids... ramps up in Grade 10... to do well in grade 12... do all the right things at university, take on the right roles and say yes to everything: then claim your reward later. These are the guys that are still keeping this kind of market afloat right now (I feel that's the case anyway). This could be for themselves or to show others they've made it (or to keep up with others)... Unfortunately it seems at present, the reward for this is remaining 1 paycheque away from oblivion or having to choose between having a car or kids.
Anyway whether this is right or wrong, it will be interesting times ahead for us all.
Exactly,
The problem here is also, literally nobody in their right mind *DREAMS* of an X3. But the outlay is already at "dream car" money.Apart from those who 'have money' or businesses, there just aren't enough salaried people out there that are able to buy these things anymore. BMW is slowing. Others in this range are collapsing. All these long-motorplan terms and extra warranties are not coming from the goodness of manufacturer's hearts. It's desperation.
There are people working for companies that earn a lot of money but in case anyone hasn't noticed, these guys have been suffering for years now with wage stagnation and effects of interest rates and inflation. The person working at a company (outside of very senior management) is simply not going to have the cashflow to buy what used to be 'executive sedans and SUVs' that are really meant for him/her. You WILL see these vehicles around because there are still people able to buy them or willing to put up with the terms required to make them 'affordable', but the reality is that number is now quite low.
On the topic of jobs, go and see how hard it is to get a R1.5M+ job that is not an absolute clusterf*** of amalgamated roles... often with virtually zero team or support. Even if you shop further up the chain (and are suitable connected and qualified to land it) you find this is the case.
I last held an executive role many moons ago but I will often get called by companies or head hunters and have to decline even interviewing since my little consulting business with some rag-tag freelancers (nowhere close to matching what I've earned in the past by the way) pays me more than roles that will literally take over your life and make you go grey (I'd know since I was on stress control medication when I had some of them
The dynamic I've seen is that very young people are willing to accept these roles for the title. They have no idea how few resources they have, the pressure awaiting them or what they SHOULD be earning because so many influencers and literature encourage them to avoid saying 'no' to 'opportunity'. There are certain people I know who have taken on additional work for no extra pay for fear that they would be sidelined in future OR they would eventually lose their jobs. As a result, you have wage stagnation or even declines in the average pay for certain roles. That is not to say that this is the case everywhere and there are still plenty of 'good jobs' at good employers in good industries. This is more of a trend where I 'fish' so to speak so of course your mileage will vary.
I have had this chat with @KPM3_30 before at length: I left FMCG 10 years ago and yet salaries offered then are pretty much the same as now for similar titles but much greater complexity. I see the same thing happening in ICT now and to a lesser degree in FSI. Some of the smartest and most driven people I know are peacing out... and finding success on their own. Regardless of performance or profitability, everyone is expected to do more WITH less and FOR less. This is apart from all the other dynamics at play within tech currently: It's a problem many years in the making starting with reductions in bonus structures, ever-increasing role complexity and resource/skill cuts. I have two multi-billion rand clients that have multiple single-person departments albeit staffed by individuals that have very nice titles. I can't complain really because the only way for them to be effective is to work with small businesses like my own... but bear with me... there's a point to this:
These people who eventually have a title or get a job that pays well also have dreams and had goals like all of us did when we hoped to climb the ladder and achieve things. To have nice clothes and cars and houses etc etc. Why kill yourself if there is no reward? This is programmed into people from the time they are kids... ramps up in Grade 10... to do well in grade 12... do all the right things at university, take on the right roles and say yes to everything: then claim your reward later. These are the guys that are still keeping this kind of market afloat right now (I feel that's the case anyway). This could be for themselves or to show others they've made it (or to keep up with others)... Unfortunately it seems at present, the reward for this is remaining 1 paycheque away from oblivion or having to choose between having a car or kids.
Anyway whether this is right or wrong, it will be interesting times ahead for us all.
)
This is exactly what slapped me in the face on my car hunt.I am not sure what is more depressing: The fact that 'dream car' money buys you a basic SUV or that everyone has boiled in the pot so long that they believe and tell each other that R1M is not a lot of money anymore and we must all just accept that.
In the US there is this phenomenon where people act against their own best interests because they believe they are on the cusp of greatness and wealth. There is a version of this here where people who have basically nothing talk and behave as though the lotto win/giant tender/huge promotion is imminent. There is instant gratification and then there is delusion.
I think these have all converged to the point where basically it is a handful of people that recognise R1M as 'dream car' money anymore because there is just so much groupthink about R1M being nothing special (as though everyone has it sitting spare in their accounts
The CLA45 (despite smelling like a low-cost furniture store inside) costs an absolute fortune for what it is and I can't even fit into it properly. I don't know who is supposed to drive it.. I wish I was kidding. Then they found a used car for me and basically said: OK this is the price take it or leave it... and it was more or less the same as what I saw the car go for at M Fest a while prior.
Well BAIC makes a lot of the interior components for Mercedes.Talk of Merc pricing vs quality. Its by far worse than BMW.
They have 1979 Golf 1 seat dials in latest models. Come on now,
Not the most convenient.
The interiors are Chinese cars quality! Cheap plastics. I know I am using the A / CLA class as an example, who would have thought a premium german car manufacture would scoop so low!
Haval H6 feels more premium lolTalk of Merc pricing vs quality. Its by far worse than BMW.
They have 1979 Golf 1 seat dials in latest models. Come on now,
Not the most convenient.
The interiors are Chinese cars quality! Cheap plastics. I know I am using the A / CLA class as an example, who would have thought a premium german car manufacture would scoop so low!
